To me there is a certain kind of sadness that is brought about by seeing a once busy place abandoned by those who once took pleasure hanging out there. Not seeing the daily activity makes me feel like there is something missing in my day.
This is so true now when I look out the window in our dining area. Once a flurry of activity with birds and the occasional squirrel, the feeder outside outside our window sits empty. It is not because I have no seed to put in it. It is not because I don’t want to feed the birds. It is because we have been asked not to feed them.
Perhaps you have seen in the paper or heard on the news that people have been finding dead birds on their lawn. Thankfully, we have not had that happen here. No one seems to know what is going on with them. City Wildlife has informed people to take down feeders and birdbaths to help curb the infection that seems to be spreading through the bird population.
Although I haven’t taken down the feeders, I no longer fill them. Because of that birds have stopped coming to our window. An occasional one will sometimes fly to the feeder and sit on it looking for something to eat,. I swear that it sometimes looks in the window at me as if asking, “Where’s the food?” It makes me sad that I don’t give them anything. Hopefully the time will soon come when we are told we can start refilling feeders and the birds will be back. Until then I just look at the abandoned feeder and sigh.
Unfilled and unused Happiness and joy are gone When will life return?
arjeha 
Not to trivialize a concerning phenomenon, but I’ll bet your cats miss the visitors, too. Here’s hoping the City Wildlife figure it out soon.
As a matter of fact, they do. They liked watching the birds come and go
We experienced the same thing here in Indiana. Although a few things have been ruled out, researchers have not discovered the cause or a solution.
Hopefully a solution will be found. We miss seeing birds at the feeder.
I had not heard about this sad situation. I hope people follow the recommendations and the bird population recovers.
I hope so, too. Sounds like something from a Hitchcock film.
That’s sad! I didn’t know this was happening. Hopefully they can figure it out soon.
That is my hope as well.
Bird infections are no small matter. This spring we had swan flu in Estonia. It was devastating to find corpses on the shore. Precautions are good. This will pass and I am sure the birds will return and you will see them eating and bathing. I saw a healthy swan family swimming at the sea last week.
So far, the birds around here do not seem to be affected. am hoping it stays that way.
Come to think of it, I have not seen birds sweeping across my lawn lately, Bob. Your haiku is a simple statement but the message is clear. Bird life is suffering and humans are also feeling the pangs. Great question at the end of the poem.
Thanks, Carol. I am hoping that once Fall get a here, I can’t believe I’m saying that, I will once again be able to fill the feeders and the birds.
Abandoned for sure.
Poor birds.
Poor humans.
Yes, this is affecting not just the birds.
That sounds like a tough situation for your community. There’s so much sadness about this. Here’s hoping that it improves for all.
Here’s hoping. This seems to be happening in other parts of the country as well. Hope they find the cause soon.
That is really very sad.
It really is. I miss seeing them at the feeder.
Fewer butterflies, fewer birds = less joy.
How true.
It is a weird sort of empty nest feel, isn’t it? The parents of adult children suddenly missing the cacophony of the young. I do hope whatever it is resolves it self soon, so you and the birds who come looking can return to normal.
Thanks. It is hard seeing the occasional bird come looking for food and finding none where once there was a feast.